Can You Still Go On Holiday to Japan: Best Routes & Travel Tips

Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe

Yes, you can still go on holiday to Japan. Japan is open to international tourists, but your passport, visa requirements, and permitted length of stay depend on your nationality. A well-paced first trip usually combines Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, with Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Takayama, or Fukuoka added when you have more time.

Can You Still Go on Holiday to Japan?

Yes, Japan welcomes international leisure travelers. However, being allowed to enter depends on your passport, the purpose and length of your visit, and whether your nationality qualifies for a short-stay visa exemption.

Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption list before booking. Travelers who are not eligible for visa-free entry may need to apply for a visa in advance. Some eligible applicants can use Japan’s electronic visa system, but availability depends on nationality and country of residence.

Japan Entry Checklist

• Confirm that your passport will remain valid for your full stay.
• Check whether your nationality requires a tourist visa.
• Keep proof of your return or onward travel available.
• Save the address and telephone number of your first accommodation.
• Check your airline’s document requirements before departure.
• Complete immigration and customs information through Visit Japan Web when appropriate.

Current Health and COVID Entry Rules

Japan does not currently require travelers to show a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a predeparture COVID-19 test. Those border measures ended for arrivals from April 29, 2023. Rules can change if a new health emergency develops, so check the Ministry of Health border-measures page shortly before departure.

Routine travel-health precautions still apply. Bring enough prescription medicine for your trip, keep it in its original packaging, and check Japan’s restrictions before carrying controlled or heavily regulated medication.

Japan Trip Planning Basics

For a first holiday to Japan, plan a route that limits unnecessary hotel changes. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka work well together because they provide a mix of modern neighborhoods, temples, food, museums, and convenient rail connections. Add another region only when your trip length and interests justify the extra travel.

Best Routes

Route	Suggested length	Best for
Golden Route	7–10 days	Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and an optional Nara day trip
Takayama and the Japanese Alps	10–14 days	Mountain scenery, traditional towns, and a slower pace
New Golden Route	10–14 days	Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Fukui, and Kyoto
Diamond Route	7–10 days	Fukushima, Tochigi, Ibaraki, nature, history, and fewer foreign visitors

The classic Golden Route is the easiest option for a first visit. Kyoto also gives you straightforward access to Nara and Osaka, so you can add day trips without changing hotels every night.

For mountain scenery and older townscapes, travel through Takayama, Matsumoto, Shirakawa-go, or Kanazawa. The New Golden Route connects Tokyo and Kyoto through Hokuriku rather than following the more familiar coastal Shinkansen corridor. The Diamond Route explores Fukushima, Tochigi, and Ibaraki north of Tokyo.

Best Time to Visit Japan

Season	What to expect	Planning note
Spring	Mild weather and blossoms from south to north	Popular dates sell out early and blossom timing varies by region
Summer	Festivals, fireworks, heat, humidity, and a rainy period	Allow for heat breaks and possible typhoon disruption
Autumn	Comfortable temperatures and changing leaves	Popular foliage areas become busy, especially on weekends
Winter	Snow sports, hot springs, illuminations, and clearer city days	Mountain routes may close or require winter preparation

Spring and autumn often provide the most comfortable sightseeing weather, but they are also popular. Japan’s busiest domestic travel periods include Golden Week from late April into early May, the Obon period around mid-August, and the New Year holiday from late December into early January. Expect higher prices, fuller trains, and limited accommodation during these periods.

Travel Tips

Carry a payment card and a reasonable amount of Japanese yen. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in major cities, but some small restaurants, temples, rural buses, ticket machines, and family-run accommodations may still require cash.

ATMs at Seven Bank and Japan Post Bank commonly support overseas cards, although availability, withdrawal limits, and fees depend on your card issuer. When a payment terminal offers conversion into your home currency, compare the rate and fees before choosing.

• Wear comfortable shoes because station transfers and sightseeing days involve substantial walking.
• Download Japanese language support and offline maps before departure.
• Arrange an eSIM, travel SIM, roaming plan, or pocket Wi-Fi if you need dependable mobile data.
• Book limited-entry attractions, popular museums, theme parks, and special restaurants ahead.
• Save your hotel address in Japanese for taxis and emergency use.

How to Budget for Japan

Build your budget in separate parts rather than relying on one daily figure:

• International airfare: Prices vary sharply by departure country, season, and baggage allowance.
• Accommodation: Hostels and business hotels cost less than centrally located international hotels or meal-inclusive ryokan stays.
• Long-distance transport: Shinkansen tickets, domestic flights, and rail passes can form a large part of the budget.
• Daily spending: Include local transport, food, attractions, luggage delivery, shopping, and emergency funds.

Book accommodation before rail passes. Your final hotel route determines which long-distance tickets or passes make financial sense.

Japan Travel Rules and Etiquette

Most Japanese etiquette is based on avoiding inconvenience to other people. You do not need to know every custom, but observing signs and following the behavior of people around you will prevent most problems.

Guideline	What to do
Shoes indoors	Remove them when signs, raised flooring, slippers, or staff instructions indicate a no-shoe area
Tipping	Pay the stated amount unless a specialized service clearly explains another practice
Public transport	Keep calls and conversations quiet, queue properly, and let passengers exit first
Food while walking	Follow local signs and eat near the vendor or in a designated area when requested
Photography	Check signs and ask before photographing people, private property, ceremonies, or restricted temple areas
Rubbish	Carry a small bag because public bins may be limited

On trains and buses, silence your phone and keep bags out of the aisle. Avoid blocking station gates, narrow pavements, and escalators while checking a map. Give priority seats to passengers who need them.

Tipping is not normally expected in restaurants, hotels, or taxis. Return any tray or payment envelope as directed rather than leaving loose money on a table.

Useful phrases include “Sumimasen” for “excuse me” or getting someone’s attention and “Arigato gozaimasu” for a polite thank you.

How to Get Around Japan

Japan’s transport system combines high-speed trains, local railways, subways, buses, ferries, domestic flights, and taxis. The best option depends on distance, travel time, luggage, and the number of stops in your itinerary.

Do not buy a nationwide rail pass because it sounds convenient. Price your planned long-distance journeys first, then buy the ticket or pass that covers them for the lowest reasonable cost.

Shinkansen and the JR Pass

The Shinkansen is usually the most convenient way to travel between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and other major cities on Honshu and Kyushu. Reserved seats are useful during holidays, weekends, and busy seasonal periods.

As of July 2026, an ordinary nationwide Japan Rail Pass costs ¥50,000 for 7 days, ¥80,000 for 14 days, or ¥100,000 for 21 days when purchased through the official online service. Prices and sales channels can change, so check the official Japan Rail Pass price page before buying.

IC Cards and Local Transport

Prepaid IC cards such as Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, and other interoperable cards simplify many local train and bus journeys. You tap at the gate instead of buying a separate ticket for every ride. They can also work at participating convenience stores, vending machines, lockers, and restaurants.

IC cards do not cover every rural service, highway bus, or long-distance train reservation. Keep some cash and check whether the IC logo is displayed before boarding.

Traveling With Luggage

Small and medium suitcases can usually go on overhead racks or in approved storage areas. On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, baggage with combined length, width, and height of more than 160 cm and up to 250 cm requires an oversized-baggage seat reservation.

Travelers who board applicable trains with oversized baggage but no reservation may be charged ¥1,000 and directed to a storage space chosen by the conductor. Baggage with combined dimensions over 250 cm cannot be brought aboard.

• Use local trains and buses for towns outside the Shinkansen network.
• Consider domestic flights when crossing long distances, such as Tokyo to Hokkaido or Okinawa.
• Rent a car for rural areas only after checking licence, permit, toll, parking, and winter-driving requirements.
• Use luggage delivery to avoid carrying large bags through crowded stations.

Where to Stay in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka

Choose accommodation near a useful train or subway station, but do not assume the largest station is always easiest. Major terminals can involve long walks and crowded transfers. A smaller station on a direct line may provide a calmer and more convenient base.

Tokyo Neighborhood Picks

Tokyo is too large for one neighborhood to be best for everyone. Choose based on the places you expect to visit most often.

• Shinjuku: Best for major transport connections, nightlife, shopping, and late-opening restaurants.
• Shibuya: Good for fashion, entertainment, walkable neighborhoods, and access to western Tokyo.
• Asakusa: Better for traditional streets, Senso-ji, quieter mornings, and access toward Tokyo Skytree.
• Ueno: Useful for museums, Ueno Park, budget accommodation, and northern rail connections.
• Tokyo Station or Ginza: Convenient for Shinkansen travel, shopping, and central business districts.

Check the final train time if you plan to stay out late. Some journeys that are simple during the day become slower after direct services stop.

Kyoto Area Stays

Kyoto Station is convenient for Shinkansen arrivals, buses, Nara trips, and day trips to Osaka. Downtown Kyoto around Kawaramachi or Karasuma offers better evening dining and central access. Gion places you near historic streets and eastern temples but may cost more and can involve crowded buses.

A ryokan can provide tatami rooms, futon bedding, baths, and carefully timed meals. Read the property rules before booking because check-in deadlines, meal times, bathing etiquette, and luggage storage differ from a standard hotel.

Staying near Kinkaku-ji can work for travelers focused on northwestern Kyoto, but it is less convenient for broad city sightseeing than Kyoto Station, downtown, or the Higashiyama area.

Osaka Base Options

Namba is best for Dotonbori, nightlife, street food, and access toward southern Osaka and Kansai Airport. Umeda is better for major rail connections, department stores, northern Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Himeji.

• Namba: Choose it for food, nightlife, and a lively first visit.
• Umeda: Choose it for regional day trips and convenient train transfers.
• Tennoji: Consider it for lower room rates, airport access, and southern attractions.

Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji can work as day trips from Osaka. Tokyo is better treated as a separate base because a same-day return requires substantial travel time and expensive long-distance tickets.

Best Japan Itineraries by Trip Length

The right Japan itinerary depends on how quickly you like to travel. Avoid filling every day with long transfers. Two or three nights in one base usually provides a better experience than moving hotels daily.

Trip length	Suggested route	Pace
7 days	Tokyo and Kyoto, with one Osaka or Nara day trip	Fast but manageable
10 days	Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara or Hakone	Balanced first trip
14 days	Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Miyajima	Comfortable multi-city route
21 days	Add Kanazawa, Takayama, Kyushu, Shikoku, or rural stays	Deeper regional travel

7-Day Japan Itinerary

• Days 1–3: Tokyo neighborhoods, museums, gardens, and one optional short day trip.
• Days 4–6: Kyoto temples, historic districts, markets, and gardens.
• Day 7: Nara or Osaka, depending on your departure airport and interests.

Seven days is not enough for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and the Japanese Alps without rushing. Choose fewer places and leave time for arrival fatigue.

10-Day Japan Itinerary

• Days 1–3: Tokyo
• Days 4–5: Hakone, Kanazawa, or Takayama
• Days 6–8: Kyoto, including Nara if desired
• Days 9–10: Osaka

This route mixes large cities with either mountain scenery, hot springs, or a smaller historic city.

14- to 21-Day Japan Itinerary

With two weeks, add Hiroshima and Miyajima without compressing Tokyo and Kyoto. With three weeks, continue toward Fukuoka and northern Kyushu, explore Shikoku, or slow down in the Japanese Alps and Hokuriku.

Open-jaw flights can reduce backtracking. For example, arriving in Tokyo and departing from Osaka or Fukuoka may save a full return journey.

Japan Safety, Insurance, and Emergencies

Japan is generally safe for visitors, but travelers should still prepare for illness, lost property, earthquakes, heavy rain, heat, snow, and typhoons. Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment, cancellation, missed transport, and the activities you plan to do.

• Police emergency: 110
• Fire or ambulance: 119
• JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline: 050-3816-2787 within Japan or +81-50-3816-2787 from overseas

Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, insurance details, prescriptions, and emergency contacts. Check evacuation routes when you enter a hotel, and follow staff and official warnings during an earthquake or severe-weather event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $5000 Enough for 2 Weeks in Japan?

It can be enough for one traveler, especially when international airfare is excluded and accommodation is booked carefully. It may not be enough for two people when long-haul flights, premium hotels, theme parks, frequent taxis, and extensive Shinkansen travel are included. Price airfare, accommodation, and intercity transport first, then set a daily food and activity allowance.

What Is the 25 5 Rule in Japan?

There is no recognized 25-5 rule for tourists in Japan. The claim that people work for 25 days and then take five days off is not a standard Japanese holiday, employment, or travel rule. Do not use it when planning your itinerary or interpreting local etiquette.

What Is the 5 Minute Rule in Japan?

Japan has no formal nationwide five-minute rule for tourists. Arriving five to ten minutes early is simply a useful habit because trains, tours, restaurant bookings, and ryokan meal times often run punctually. Allow a larger buffer at major stations where reaching the correct platform and car can take time.

What Is the Alternative to the Golden Route in Japan?

Alternatives include the New Golden Route through Nagano, Kanazawa, and Fukui; the Diamond Route through Fukushima, Tochigi, and Ibaraki; or a western route through Okayama, Hiroshima, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Choose one region rather than combining several distant alternatives into a short trip.

Do I Need a Visa for a Holiday to Japan?

It depends on your passport, country of residence, purpose of travel, and intended stay. Japan grants short-stay visa exemptions to travelers from specified countries and regions. Other travelers must obtain a visa before departure. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or the Japanese embassy responsible for your place of residence.

Is the JR Pass Worth It for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka?

Not automatically. A return journey between Tokyo and Kansai plus several additional long-distance trips may make a pass useful, but a one-way Tokyo-to-Kyoto-or-Osaka journey often does not. Compare the current pass price with individual reserved-seat fares and any regional pass that matches your route.

Conclusion

You can still go on holiday to Japan, but good planning matters more than buying every popular pass or adding every famous city. Confirm your visa status, prepare your arrival information, compare rail costs, and book busy dates early. A focused route with enough time in each base will usually provide a better trip than a crowded itinerary built around constant transfers.

Carry both cash and a card, arrange mobile data, measure large luggage, and learn a few basic etiquette habits. With those details handled before departure, you can spend more of your holiday enjoying Japan’s food, neighborhoods, landscapes, and culture.

Sources

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Visa Exemptions — passport-based short-stay visa guidance.
2. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Border Measures — current COVID-19 vaccination, testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements.
3. Official Japan Rail Pass: Types and Prices — nationwide pass durations, prices, and service conditions.
4. Japan National Tourism Organization: Customs and Etiquette — payment, public-transport, shoe, and visitor-behavior guidance.
5. JR Central: Oversized Baggage Information — Shinkansen luggage measurements, reservations, and fees.
6. Japan National Tourism Organization: Staying Safe in Japan — emergency numbers, natural-disaster preparation, and visitor assistance.